Nearly 1.1 million dual nationalities in the Netherlands

16/12/2008 15:00

On 1 January 2008, there were 1.08 million people in the Netherlands with at least one foreign nationality, i.e. nearly three times as many as on 1 January 1995. Nearly half of them also have the Turkish or Moroccan nationality.

Dutch people with at least one foreign nationality, 1 January

Marginal increase naturalisations in 2007

Nearly 22 thousand people – more than 16 thousand people aged 18 years or older and 6 thousand children – received a Dutch passport in 2007, nearly a thousand more than in 2006, but only half as many as in 2001. One quarter of naturalisations concerned Turks and Moroccans.

Naturalisations

Increase due to naturalisations

The sharp increase in Dutch with more than one nationality since 1995 is predominantly due to the large number of naturalisations. The increase mainly occurred in the latter half of the 1990s. Most naturalised Dutch retained their original nationality.

Between 1 January 1992 and 1 October 1997, people with a non-Dutch nationality could retain their original nationality. This opportunity was used on a large scale. Since 1 October 1997, people are no longer allowed to have more than one nationality. As there are many exceptions to this rule, nearly 80 percent of people naturalised in the period 1998–2007 could still retain their original nationality.

Increase also due to birth

Since 2003, the number of Dutch with dual nationality has increased mainly at birth. Last year, 21 thousand children were automatically granted dual nationality because one of the parents had a foreign as well as the Dutch nationality. In addition, 7 thousand people were granted Dutch nationality in 2007 through an option or adoption procedure.

Dutch with dual nationality by way of acquisition

Mainly Turks and Moroccans have dual nationality

Nearly half of people with dual nationality have the Turkish or Moroccan nationality in addition to the Dutch nationality, followed at a distance by people who also have the German or British nationality.

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